Equipment

Sticks can be bought from Hobbycraft stores and Lakeland (those are the most commercial places to get them from) online try thecakedecoratingcompany.co.uk and amazon.co.uk - candy melts can also be bought from here and Hobbycraft (not sure about Lakeland though)

Method

3. Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together and set aside.

4. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, add the vanilla extract. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

5. Add the flour in one go. Then the cooled cocoa powder. Fold in the dried fruit.

6. Pour the mixture into cake tin, filling halfway and bake for 40 minutes or until a cocktail stick inserted into the centre comes out clean. Place on a wire rack to cool completely.

Brandy Buttercream

1. Cream the butter, gradually add the sugar until smooth and creamy. Add the brandy and continue creaming until fully combined.

To Make the Cake Pops

1. Once cooled, crumble the cake thoroughly using your hands and add the frosting a spoonful at a time. You will most likely not need all of the frosting, so just add enough to bind the crumbs together and form a pliable mixture. Cover with clingfilm and chill for one hour or until firm.

2. Remove from the refrigerator and roll 20 equally sized balls from the mixture using your hands. Place each ball on a tray lined with baking paper, cover with clingfilm and chill for 20 minutes or until firm.

3. Place the candy in a microwave safe bowl and melt for 1 minute. Stir and melt for 30 seconds, repeat once more. Keep stirring until blended and smooth.

4. Dip each lollipop stick about 1cm into the candy and then into the centre of each cake pop about halfway deep. Dip each cake pop one at a time into the candy then decorate with Christmas sugar decorations or sprinkles of your choice. Gently shake out over the bowl to remove the excess. Insert each cake pop into a polystyrene block or cake dummy to dry (about one minute).